Attendance numbers met figures in years past despite the cancellation of the All Harley drag races in Norwalk.

And changes are coming for next year that could boost attendance even higher, Ernst said.

Staff are already working on changes for the layout of the event and the date could change too, though there is no official announcement yet, he said.

Ohio Bike Week already makes the map nationally, but its publicity is sure to grow after a film crew from Discovery Communications puts out footage they’ve recorded through the week with police officers and bike week staff.

The crew is making a documentary after filming in Sandusky, at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, and Laconia Motorcycle Week in New Hampshire, Ernst said.

Sturgis, Laconia and Daytona host the largest motorcycle events nationally, he said.

“We’re definitely on the map. It’s a neat thing,” he said.

Comments

Raoul Duke

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 7:47am

Neato.

bobshumway92

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 9:36am

Hopefully next year there are DUI checkpoints at all roads leaving downtown.

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 11:55am

Moderators have removed this comment because it contained Personal attacks (including: name calling, presumption of guilt or guilt by association, insensitivity, or picking fights).

gene44870

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 7:52am

Thats not a good idea , who in the world would come to a place knowing the risk of getting a DUI would come to bike week ?
I am not a drinker , but I can tell yea that that would be a place I would stay clear of

rezzy

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:06pm

Yes, and raids on homes to make sure everyone is doing what they're supposed to be doing.

bobshumway92

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:14pm

I guess neither of you have had a family member killed by a drunk driver. That's ok though. It's good for business. Unreal.

rezzy

Tue, 06/11/2013 - 4:36pm

Sorry for your loss! I just think that's a delicate balance in a democracy. I'm not supporting drunk driving, just freedom

arnmcrmn

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 9:49am

DUI checkpoints.....lol.

donutshopguy

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 10:03am

Talked to a few of these visitors while waiting in line for a restaurant last night. Both groups from the Ohio area. They both offered my father-in-law the opportunity to move in front of them as a sight of respect for a WW2 vet. He declined but was honored by their thought.

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 11:05am

wow really the way those fatboyz eat hard to believe !!!

rezzy

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:08pm

It's worth knowing that they opened each event with children reading the pledge of allegiance and the National Anthem. This group has respect for the veterans and love the exercise the freedoms that come with it...let's not lose sight of that.

Free Man

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:29pm

looks like the bikers made it to the office , Monday morning.

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:29pm

Very nice gesture.

Grandpa04

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 10:28am

Most bikers are great poeple! That never changes. poeple who talk them down are poeple that are CLUELESS!

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 10:59am

Grandpa come home bike weak is over . the grass needs cut.

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:30pm

Right on!

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 11:06am

Glad its over Grandpa and Grandma can finally park that $over rated$ mc in the garage for the rest of the year and take off the fake leathers and gandpa can shave and grandma can shower and talk about how they where bikers once.. for a week

rezzy

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:09pm

Free Man owned a moped in high school and watches TV. He knows everything about bikers.

Free Man

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:31pm

well yes i do own a moped did we ride together ?
wha ? u mean TV is fake ?
dam...just got a SOA tat..

reader

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 11:15am

They came. They spent a ton of money and had fun. Almost all made it home safely.

Yawl come back next year's bike week !

After the pleasant weather for Saturday's downtown party and parade, let's hope we can hit the trifecta with sunny skies for our 4th of July community celebration in Washington Park and the big car show in September.

gene44870

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 12:02pm

And just to think that if they charged one dollar , look at the money that could be made . and two dollars would be like hitting a gold mine
And I am just wandering how many people were arrested . I hate to have to appear in Sandusky muni on monday ...lol

Grandpa04

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 1:05pm

Funny, Grampa was a biker probably before u were thought of. as i said CLUELESS! lmao

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 1:40pm

if you say so... pops !

Grandpa04

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 1:19pm

Call ur self free man ? Mabee u should also thank the men and Women who fought for that , instead of critisizeing them! Alot of them ride bikes!

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 1:42pm

ya pops maybe some did maybe some didn't got a point ?

rezzy

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:10pm

I get it! Free man must never have served or had a family member that served.

Free Man

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:33pm

gandma stop it.. go feed gramps

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 1:45pm

Grandpa come home bike weak is over . the grass needs cut.

Grandpa04

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 1:48pm

I see, u meant free from prizon, or county!

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 1:52pm

if you say so... pops !

The General

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 2:11pm

it was the bomb! Was loaded half the time ,but hey that's what its all about....got me some skirt too

Free Man

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 9:30pm

please don't call grandma skirt ...

Informed

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 3:52pm

Classy.

cantsay

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 8:37pm

160,000? was there another ohio bike week going on that i missed? and 2,000 riders in the parade? the count from the sheriff was 800.

rezzy

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 12:57pm

The bikers were required to register at Roeder Harley Davidson where they paid $20 a piece so the count is accurate. The money went to charity. Don't you just hate bikers for giving $40,000 to charity?

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:34pm

Actually the cost was 10.00 for each bike (including rider) and an additional 10.00 for a passenger.

Free Man

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:35pm

aint no Harley Davidson after the name Roeder any mo..

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:32pm

I rode in the parade and would say there were 800-1000 bikes. 2,000 seems a little elevated to me as well. Tough call on the attendance since there were so may events scattered throughout the area.

rezzy

Tue, 06/11/2013 - 4:38pm

Hard to believe you all are spending so much thought on how many were there and questioning the official answer, sigh!

starryeyes83

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 10:47pm

I think the figures are fudged. How do you count them? Turnstiles? Motel rooms? What?

Good 2 B Me

Sun, 06/09/2013 - 11:28pm

There is no way to count the people. They estimate much higher than we actually have. It keeps the Sponsorship Money flowing. If they admitted how the rain affected this last 10 days, no one would want to spend a dime on Sponsoring it. I love OBW, but always get a kick out of the over inflated numbers! It is all about making money!

bellboy

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 12:24am

Maybe they should think about pushing it back a week so no one gets rained on like they have the past 3-4 years and they might have a bigger crowd yet

The Hero Zone

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:19am

One number that can't be denied was that my till saw an increase for both direct and indirect sales made to attendees, along with business as (somewhat) usual. I look forward to events like this and hope to be able to help the city coordinate more activities for residents and out-of-towners alike to enjoy here.

gene44870

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 7:43am

Heres an idea for Bike week , starting next year , have a one dollar , thats one buck charge to everyone that comes to bike week and use the money to get some big name country and rock bands down there and see what kind of turn out you have then .
I know that if a singer and band where to come downtown you can bet I would pay a buck to see them and hear them play . Just a litle food for thought

sandtown born a...

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 9:06am

Bike Week a lot of posers and a handful of bikers. kind of like watching championship wrestling you know its fake as all heck but some must still watch. i guess as long as all have fun and see most for who they really are underneath the costume and fake tough guy attitudes.

rezzy

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:03pm

Let me guess, you are one of the "tough guys" as defined by yourself. Quit hating people and trying to hold hard working "bikers" who paid $20,000 for their bikes to your low standards. Last I checked, if a person shells out cash for two wheels and rides it, than that makes them a biker. But I suppose they should commit crime, stink like underarms, have a basement tattoo, lose some teeth, lower their IQs, beat their women, have children they don't care for, and call themselves a biker to be a biker. Grow up

sandtown born a...

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:58pm

I guess you fall into the poser category??? I for one don't see nothing but a few bikers at bike week and a lot of yuppie posers or wanna be bikers. You don't have to be a criminal to be a biker. I guess you should grow up and realize you are a poser. I never claimed to be one of the tough guys nor do I walk around like I am one. I like to surprise the unexpected. More fun that way

Free Man

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:23pm

agree.. who the hell pays $20k for a mc and some fake leather ?
oh ya a wanna be. go home.

sandtown born a...

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:41pm

Don't misinterpret my post I love all of you even the yuppie posers we all have fun together. I watch you all pull into Sturgis with your bikes in trailers in your polo shirts and all of course until you check into your room and transform into a biker

rezzy

Tue, 06/11/2013 - 4:41pm

Sounds like you and free man are suffering from an inferiority complex; who whizzed in your corn flakes and made you keeper of the official biker gate. Grow up children, high school is over.

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:28pm

So, if you show up to a car show in car does that make you a classic car poser? Just trying to follow your through process here.

Have an awesome day!!

AEversole

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 11:31am

A biker doesn't have to be your stereotypical long bearded heavy set man in leather you dummy. Wake up.... a lot of people like to ride.. Dr s lawyers and buisnessmen, men, women and most in between. The jokers you r talking about make up like 1% of the bike population. I love that bike week comes here. It generates millions upon millions into this struggling town.

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:26pm

Yep.

Free Man

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 12:32pm

well they all looked like heavy set bearded men to me ..and that was just the women..!

bobshumway92

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:17pm

I agree. I saw nothing but overweight and chicks that looked like they had many miles on them. Gross.

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:25pm

You must not have seen my wife and I. She's pretty hot, and thin. We are in pretty good shape if I don't say so myself. Oh, that's because we try to eat decent and exercise a few times a week. Try it sometime, you'll be amazed at the results.

Have an awesome day!!

Free Man

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:38pm

ya I think shes hot ..

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:45pm

Thanks Free Man! What a nice thing to say. You seem like a really nice level headed person. :)

The General

Tue, 06/11/2013 - 8:48pm

I can cut you a discount on some cigs...let me know

VTX Rider

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 1:21pm

A huge "Thank You!" to the organizers, vendors, bikers and hundreds of volunteers for another successful Ohio Bike Week!! I enjoyed the variety of live music the most.

This is an event that can be enjoyed by a variety of people with varying tastes. You don't have to be a "biker" (I'm not even sure how to define that term) to enjoy this event. I've been riding for 30 years and don't consider myself a biker, although I do ride a bike. Heck, I don't even own a pair of chaps. I do however, wear a helmet, shower daily, have a full time job, pay my bills on time and treat my wife with respect.

Looking forward to Ohio Bike Week 2014!!

Have a great day and be safe everyone. Oh, and look out for motorcycles!!

Free Man

Mon, 06/10/2013 - 8:25pm

I love all of you even the yuppie posers we all have fun together. I watch you all pull into Sandusky with your bikes in trailers in your polo shirts and all of course until you check into your room and transform into a biker